Marshall Hodgson, in his magnum opus work, The Venture of Islam, seems to make a passing, yet profound statement that is significant for Christians who desire to understand the culture of Muslim people. Speaking of how those in the Ottoman Empire were impacted by the ideas of the Renaissance flowing from Europe, Hodgson says:
“The Renaissance (like the later transformation also) was a development within the Occidental [Western] cultural pre-suppositions: its chief themes could prove meaningful to outsiders only through a special effort of the will such as is required in any crossing of major cultural barriers.” (Vol 3 , p. 120).
Hodgson claimed the Ottomans had to intentionally make a “special effort of the will” to cross the “major cultural barriers” of the “Occident” or “West” in order to understand and process the ideas produced in the Renaissance. From an Ottoman perspective, the Renaissance originated in a culture foreign to their own and such a “special effort of the will” was absolutely necessary to properly understand its presuppositions. If we reversed the subject of this statement, it would also had taken a “special effort of the will” on behalf of a European in the Occident to cross the “major cultural barriers” presented by the Ottoman mindset. A European traveling to Ottoman lands would have needed to do his homework in order to truly understand Ottoman culture.
HOW WAS YOUR EDUCATION OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN U.S. AND WESTERN HISTORY?
As I spoke with a group of church leaders this morning here in North Carolina, I asked them if they had learned much about the history of the Middle East during their elementary, middle, and high school years. The answers were an overwhelming “no.” Personally, I do not remember learning about Middle Eastern history or even about world religions until I was in college. While I am thankful for the education I received in US and Western history, absent from my historical knowledge was the rest of the world. Later in life, I probably learned more about Eastern history through my regular Bible study and church attendance than I received in compulsory education.
My point is not to critique the education system, though some critique is justified; my point is that Christians growing up in America must make a “special effort of the will” to cross the “major cultural barriers” that stand between them and the Muslim community. Without such a special effort, we cannot expect the gulf of cultural barriers between American Christians and American Muslims to be crossed. One must “will” to make the special effort to know the “other;” namely his/her Muslim neighbor who has a very different worldview.
HOW CAN YOU PRACTICALLY BEGIN TO MAKE A “SPECIAL EFFORT OF THE WILL” TO UNDERSTAND MUSLIMS?
Practically, what are some ways you can begin to make a special effort to understand the Muslims living in America?
1. First, before God, make the choice, or should we say, “will” to make the special effort that will be necessary to understand who Muslims are and what they believe.
2. Second, Tim Orr, adjunct professor in Religious Studies at Indiana University Purdue Columbus, has produced a few very short YouTube videos on what he calls “cultural intelligence.” These videos may help you begin to shift your paradigm of thinking about other cultures. The first ‘5 minute’ video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1OWVHWAitI
3. Third, host a Crescent Project Bridges Study at your church or in your community. You can find more information about the study at CresentProject.org . I am glad to help yo get this study started. Please contact me through Tmessick.com
May our Lord Jesus empower us by His Spirit as we seek make a special effort of our wills to truly understand the millions of Muslims God has brought to our doorsteps.
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